Each spring, Munich plays host to Starkbierfest, the city’s strong beer season and at the heart of it sits Salvatorfest, Paulaner’s iconic celebration of their legendary Doppelbock, Salvator. Hugely popular in Munich but still something of a best kept secret in the UK, it’s a proper locals’ festival rooted in tradition, brewing heritage and exceptional beer.

“Salvatorfest is Munich’s best kept secret. A proper locals’ festival, but celebrated on a seriously big scale.”

At the centre of it all is Salvator itself, a beer with over 400 years of history behind it. First brewed by Paulaner monks in 1634, it was initially created to sustain them through Lent, when solid food was restricted.

They followed the adage "liquidum non frangit ieiunium" which translates to "Liquid bread wouldn't break the Lent." This rich, malt-forward beer became known as “liquid bread” for good reason, as it offered both nourishment and comfort during fasting.

Over time, Salvator laid the foundation for the Doppelbock style and remains Paulaner’s strongest and most traditional beer at 7.9% ABV. Its name even inspired a whole category, with many imitators adopting the “-ator” suffix, though Salvator itself remains the original and the benchmark.

Our trip began early landing us in Munich by 10am. While there was understandable excitement to get stuck in, pacing is key. First stop was Wirtshaus im Braunauer Hof, a Paulaner house along the Isar. A quick reset in the beer garden with fresh pretzels, classic Bavarian dishes and a couple of perfectly poured beers set us up nicely for the day ahead.

From there, we took a stroll through the city, soaking in Munich’s charm. A highlight was the Rathaus-Glockenspiel, surrounded by some of the city’s most impressive architecture. The afternoon was spent as it should be in Munich, moving between beer halls, exploring and building anticipation for the evening’s festivities!

After a quick refresh at the hotel, we headed to Paulaner am Nockherberg. Here, we were treated to a private tour of the on-site brewery with brewmaster Uli, including their impressive copper kettles, capable of producing up to 540 hectolitres of beerper brew. Seeing the process up close gave real insight into the care, precision and heritage behind Paulaner’s beers, a level of craftsmanship that earns their reputation around the world.

After this, it was onto the main event: Salvatorfest itself. The hall was packed, every table full with a mix of locals and visitors all celebrating together in a sea of lederhosen and dirndls. Paulaner had also been generous enough to arrange a table for us in their Hausbox, offering one of the best views in the room!

The evening started steadily with steins of Paulaner Münchner Hell before some moved onto Salvator. Despite its hefty 7.9% ABV, it really is incredibly smooth, drinkable and a true showcase of brewing expertise. Between the singing, dancing and euro versions of all your favourite karaoke classics, the atmosphere really was electric from start to finish.

The following day was a slower pace, with time to explore more of the city, including a real highlight, which was a visit to the Beer & Oktoberfest Museum. A proper showcase of the history behind beer and it's largest celebration. After such a whirlwind of a trip we were definitely able to really appreciate some time to slow down enjoy the culture.

All in all, an incredible trip. Salvatorfest offers something special, whether you’re a seasoned Oktoberfest fan or discovering Munich’s beer culture for the first time.

A huge thank you to Paulaner for hosting and for an unforgettable experience.

At Cave Direct, we run multiple trips like this for our customers throughout the year. If you’re interested in joining us next time, speak to your local account manager to find out more.

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